Improvements boost Shakerag Park’s popularity in Johns Creek

New ball fields, trails, facilities make park more inviting

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — The year-long upgrade of Shakerag Park in Johns Creek is all but complete, and sports leagues are already signing up to use the park’s new fields and facilities.

“We anticipate that with the improvements we’ve made, Shakerag Park will become very popular,” said Public Works Director Tom Black. “We’re adding fields, facilities, trails and parking, so it should be very appealing for teams, families and fans. We’re really excited about the new possibilities.”

The city’s public works department has leveled, sodded and striped vacant space to create two new soccer/lacrosse fields. It also refurbished an existing multi-purpose ball field and re-sealed and re-striped a running track. The fields will be irrigated from an on-site 4-acre lake, saving an estimated $40,000 a year in watering costs. The lake also has an aerator fountain to improve circulation, control mosquito and algae problems and maintain water quality.

The city built a brick concession stand and restroom facility next to the fields and planted about 50 crepe myrtles around the perimeter of the park. Another 10 parking spaces were added, for a total of 30, with additional adjacent parking available at River Trail Middle and Shakerag Elementary schools.

The first phase of a multi-purpose trail is being constructed in the northwestern quadrant of the park. The trail, about a half-mile loop, is being routed through some woodlands and will connect to the second phase, which will run in a wide loop about three-quarters of a mile long.